Precise information on climate change needed: Shyam Saran

Against the backdrop of an IPCC report making a wrong conclusion about Himalayan glaciers melting, Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Climate Change Shyam Saran today harped on more research to generate precise information on the matter.

"It is clear that climate is changing. Now we need precise information on the subject," he said.

Saran's views assume significance in the wake of a report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC) wrongly concluding that the glaciers in the Himalayas will disappear by 2035 due to global warming. IPCC chief R K Pachauri has admitted that the mistake cropped up due to a "human error".

Saran, however, defended Pachauri and said he should not step down from his post.

"Pachauri has played an important role in raising awareness not only in India but also internationally. He is highly respected internationally. Just because one mistake has occurred in a particular report, he should not step down," Saran told reporters on the sidelines of a conference on 'Climate Change' organised by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

He said the IPCC report should not be termed as wrong just because of one mistake in it.

To a question whether Bt Brinjal farming should be allowed in India, Saran said, "I do not have any view about Bt Brinjal because I do not deal with this issue."

The conference stressed on production of more literature in Hindi to create awareness on the subject.